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NHL Free Agency: Grading the Blackhawks’ signings

By Connor Ulrey

CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 17: Chicago Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville and center Jonathan Toews (19) during the third period during a game between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Minnesota Wild on December 17, 2017, at the United Center in Chicago, IL. Blackhawks won 4-1. (Photo by Patrick Gorski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 17: Chicago Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville and center Jonathan Toews (19) during the third period during a game between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Minnesota Wild on December 17, 2017, at the United Center in Chicago, IL. Blackhawks won 4-1. (Photo by Patrick Gorski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – APRIL 22: Brandon Manning #23 of the Philadelphia Flyers skates against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game Six of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Wells Fargo Center on April 22, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – APRIL 22: Brandon Manning #23 of the Philadelphia Flyers skates against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game Six of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Wells Fargo Center on April 22, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Brandon Manning

Last, but certainly not least, Brandon Manning is the only one with a two-year deal out of this trio of signings. Add that two a 2.25 million average, and I just don’t see it. Listen, we’ve mentioned it before — the defense was bad last year. That’s one of the Hawks’ most glaring weaknesses, but does this signing in any way give belief that it helps?

Numbers don’t say everything, but outside of pure points in his time in Philadelphia, Manning didn’t have a good plus/minus at all. Well, he didn’t have a plus/minus. In 2015-16 he finished with a plus-2 on the year before redoubling his efforts and finishing with an astounding minus-12 the next year. Did he step it up in 2017-18, you ask? Manning did post a career high in goals with seven and assists with 12, but finished with a big zero for plus/minus.

That isn’t to put too much stock into any one part of a defensive squad, but it’s hard not to think plus/minus is a big indicator of how the group plays when you’re on the ice. The Flyers were a playoff team last year. Manning played in 65 games and the impact just wasn’t felt.

The biggest issue with this signing is that it seems to go against what this organization wants to do for the future. You draft Adam Boqvist, you ink Johikarju, you have pieces that you want to groom to be your core four in the future, but where does that leave you with this signing? Where does Manning fit if you want to grow the guys that at least will be in Chicago somewhat this year. Obviously Boqvist won’t be anytime soon but two years at 2.25 million on average just seems wasted here.

Manning is tough and he plays with a lot of passion in his game. He doesn’t always have a quick first step in his own zone, though, and with a defense that already has struggled with being flat-footed in the past, it just seems misguided. Hopefully Manning puts that all together this fall; he’s got the defensive pieces around him to at least help with that.

Grade: D-

The Blackhawks’ signings seem to leave a lot to be desired — but we can’t say we’re general managers. Will these three have real impact in 2018? The Madhouse on Madison can only hope so if they want to avoid another truly disappointing season.

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